Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has approved the long-frozen E1 settlement project a move critics say would cut the West Bank in two, isolate East Jerusalem, and 'bury' any hope for a Palestinian state. The plan comes as Palestinians in Gaza face starvation, and settler attacks in the West Bank surge.


Israeli minister moves to split West Bank, kill Palestinian statehood plan 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have authorized a new Gaza offensive, signaling a potential escalation as tensions rise and Israeli troops prepare for expanded military action in the region.

IDF Gives Green Light to New Gaza Offensive Plan

Recent violence in Syria’s As-Sweida Governorate in July and early August has severely impacted children and families. At least 22 children were reportedly killed and 21 injured, while civilian infrastructure suffered extensive damage, complicating ongoing humanitarian response efforts.


Israel Warned Against Exploiting Situation in Sweida

The Israel Defense Forces have greenlit a fresh Gaza offensive plan, signalling a likely escalation as the military readies for expanded operations amid rising regional tensions.


Israel Defense Forces Vows to Press On Until Every Hostage is Freed and Hamas is Defeated

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have approved a new plan for a Gaza offensive amid ongoing tensions in the region. The move signals a potential escalation in the conflict as Israeli forces prepare for expanded military operations.


IDF says campaign will continue until all hostages are freed & Hamas is dismantled

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will “allow” Gazans to leave amid the ongoing Israel–Gaza war. The announcement comes as the conflict intensifies and global pressure mounts for civilian safety.


Israel-Gaza War: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Says He Will Allow Gazans to Leave | WION Pulse

Israel-Gaza War: Netanyahu Pushes For Palestinians' Departure As Egypt Seeks 60-day Truce | GRAVITAS

Heavy Israeli airstrikes have pounded Gaza City, leaving destruction in their wake, as children are seen scrambling for books and pens amid the rubble. Watch to know more!

Netanyahu's Gaza Offensive Angers New Zealand PM, Opposition MPs Demand Sanctions On Israel

Heavy Israeli airstrikes have pounded Gaza City, leaving destruction in their wake, as children are seen scrambling for books and pens amid the rubble. Watch to know more!


Pressure Mounts On Netanyahu Amid Ongoing Starvation Crisis In Gaza

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel would have targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities even without U.S. support. Watch to know more on this!


Israel On Iran's Nuclear Programme | E3 Nations Ready to Reimpose Sanctions on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will “allow” Gazans to leave amid the ongoing Israel–Gaza war. The announcement comes as the conflict intensifies and global pressure mounts for civilian safety.

Israel-Gaza War: Netanyahu Pushes For Palestinians' Departure As Egypt Seeks 60-day Truce

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (August 3) urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to take immediate action to provide food and medical care to Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as he accused Hamas of spreading a "lie of starvation" to the world.This comes a day after Hamas released a video of an Israeli hostage, Evyatar David, as they hold him hostage in a tunnel in Gaza. David's family stressed that their son is deliberately and "cynically starved in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza — a living skeleton buried alive".Netanyahu, today, while speaking to Julien Lerisson, head of the Red Cross delegation in the region, accused Hamas of spreading "a lie of starvation to the world, while the real starvation is being inflicted on the hostages, who are suffering brutal physical and psychological abuse.”“The world cannot remain indifferent in the face of images that recall Nazi crimes,” he said.Netanyahu further called on the international committee to denounce Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Israeli PM further asked them to stop all direct and indirect support for the groups, arguing that their actions are a clear violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions.David's family, on Saturday, said that their son only has a few days to live in this condition, adding, "Hamas is using our son, Evyatar, as a living experiment in a disgusting hunger campaign."In the heartbreaking video, the hostage is seen crossing off dates on a calendar on the tunnel's wall. The family of Evyatar David stressed that they are forced to witness their beloved son in this condition.At the end of the video, David is seen digging his own grave, as he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to worry about him and other hostages. &nbsp;While digging, he said that he is feeling “weaker and weaker” by the day, and heading toward death.The family further urged Israel and the international community to ensure that David receives food and is released from Hamas' captivity. "Israel and the international community must oppose Hamas’s cruelty and ensure that our Evyatar immediately receives proper nutrition."

Netanyahu, today, while speaking to Julien Lerisson, head of the Red Cross delegation in the region, accused Hamas of spreading "a lie of starvation to the world, while the real starvation is being inflicted on the hostages. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (August 3) urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to take immediate action to provide food and medical care to Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as he accused Hamas of spreading a "lie of starvation" to the world. This comes a day after Hamas released a video of an Israeli hostage, Evyatar David, as they hold him hostage in a tunnel in Gaza. David's family stressed that their son is deliberately and "cynically starved in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza — a living skeleton buried alive". Netanyahu, today, while speaking to Julien Lerisson, head of the Red Cross delegation in the region, accused Hamas of spreading "a lie of starvation to the world, while the real starvation is being inflicted on the hostages, who are suffering brutal physical and psychological abuse.” “The world cannot remain indifferent in the face of images that recall Nazi crimes,” he said. Netanyahu further called on the international committee to denounce Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Israeli PM further asked them to stop all direct and indirect support for the groups, arguing that their actions are a clear violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions. David's family, on Saturday, said that their son only has a few days to live in this condition, adding, "Hamas is using our son, Evyatar, as a living experiment in a disgusting hunger campaign." In the heartbreaking video, the hostage is seen crossing off dates on a calendar on the tunnel's wall. The family of Evyatar David stressed that they are forced to witness their beloved son in this condition. At the end of the video, David is seen digging his own grave, as he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to worry about him and other hostages. While digging, he said that he is feeling “weaker and weaker” by the day, and heading toward death. The family further urged Israel and the international community to ensure that David receives food and is released from Hamas' captivity. "Israel and the international community must oppose Hamas’s cruelty and ensure that our Evyatar immediately receives proper nutrition."

Netanyahu, today, while speaking to Julien Lerisson, head of the Red Cross delegation in the region, accused Hamas of spreading "a lie of starvation to the world, while the real starvation is being inflicted on the hostages.&nbsp;

'Hamas spreading lie of starvation': Netanyahu urges Red Cross Committee to provide food to Israeli hostages amid 'brutal abuse'

As US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited war-torn Gaza, Hamas condemned Trump envoy's visit to the site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund, calling it a "pre-arranged theatrical performance". However, the terror group also vowed not to disarm as long as the occupation exists and until there is a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.&nbsp;This comes hours after Witkoff told the families of hostages that Hamas has said it is ready to demilitarise. The Palestinian militant group said that Witkoff's visit is providing a political cover for managing starvation.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-trump-is-humanitarian-with-big-heart-us-president-to-approve-new-gaza-aid-plan-after-witkoff-and-huckabee-visit-strip-1753997177197">Also read: 'Trump is humanitarian with big heart': US President to approve new Gaza aid plan after Witkoff and Huckabee visit Strip</a>&nbsp;"Witkoff’s visit was nothing more than a pre-arranged theatrical performance aimed at misleading public opinion, polishing the image of the occupation, and providing it with political cover for managing starvation and continuing the systematic killing of children and unarmed civilians from our people in the Gaza Strip," Hamas stated.<h2>'American administration partner in crime'</h2>The Palestinian militant group Hamas slammed further, saying that the Trump administration is a full partner in the crime of genocide in Gaza.&nbsp;“The American administration is a full partner in the crime of starvation and genocide taking place in plain sight of the entire world,” it said.&nbsp;It further said that Witkoff’s misleading statements, along with the broadcast of propaganda images "attempting to portray the aid distribution as peaceful", are contradicted by the facts on the ground where he stood.&nbsp;“We call on the American administration to bear its historical responsibility by lifting the cover from the crime of the century in Gaza and moving towards a ceasefire agreement that leads to ending the aggression and the withdrawal of the occupation army," Hamas stated.&nbsp;Hamas further stressed that it won't disarm, vowing to continue its violent struggle "as long as the occupation exists".

Palestinian militant group Hamas said that Witkoff's visit is providing a political cover for managing starvation, adding that the Trump administration is a full partner in the crime of genocide in Gaza.

As US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited war-torn Gaza, Hamas condemned Trump envoy's visit to the site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund, calling it a "pre-arranged theatrical performance". However, the terror group also vowed not to disarm as long as the occupation exists and until there is a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. This comes hours after Witkoff told the families of hostages that Hamas has said it is ready to demilitarise. The Palestinian militant group said that Witkoff's visit is providing a political cover for managing starvation. Also read: 'Trump is humanitarian with big heart': US President to approve new Gaza aid plan after Witkoff and Huckabee visit Strip "Witkoff’s visit was nothing more than a pre-arranged theatrical performance aimed at misleading public opinion, polishing the image of the occupation, and providing it with political cover for managing starvation and continuing the systematic killing of children and unarmed civilians from our people in the Gaza Strip," Hamas stated. 'American administration partner in crime' The Palestinian militant group Hamas slammed further, saying that the Trump administration is a full partner in the crime of genocide in Gaza. “The American administration is a full partner in the crime of starvation and genocide taking place in plain sight of the entire world,” it said. It further said that Witkoff’s misleading statements, along with the broadcast of propaganda images "attempting to portray the aid distribution as peaceful", are contradicted by the facts on the ground where he stood. “We call on the American administration to bear its historical responsibility by lifting the cover from the crime of the century in Gaza and moving towards a ceasefire agreement that leads to ending the aggression and the withdrawal of the occupation army," Hamas stated. Hamas further stressed that it won't disarm, vowing to continue its violent struggle "as long as the occupation exists".

Palestinian militant group Hamas said that Witkoff's visit is providing a political cover for managing starvation, adding that the Trump administration is a full partner in the crime of genocide in Gaza.

'Trump admin full partner in crime of genocide': Hamas slams envoy Witkoff's visit to Gaza amid starvation crisis

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday (August 2) published a video of an Israeli hostage, Evyatar David, a day after releasing a short clip of the captive. Following the release, David's family approved the media outlets to publish the 40-second clip. In the heartbreaking video, the hostage is seen crossing off dates on a calendar on the tunnel's wall.The family of Evyatar David stressed that they are forced to witness their beloved son in this condition.“We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother, Evyatar, deliberately and cynically starved in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza — a living skeleton buried alive," David's family said.They further said that their son only has a few days to live in this condition, adding, "Hamas is using our son, Evyatar, as a living experiment in a disgusting hunger campaign.""The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen. He is being starved purely to serve Hamas’s propaganda," they added.In the end of the video, David is seen digging his own grave, as he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to worry about him and other hostages. &nbsp;While digging, he said that he is feeling “weaker and weaker” by the day, and heading toward death.The family further urged Israel and the international community to ensure that David receives food and is released from Hamas' captivity. "Israel and the international community must oppose Hamas’s cruelty and ensure that our Evyatar immediately receives proper nutrition."They said that the "intentional starvation, torture and abuse" of their son for propaganda purposes violates even the lowest standards of humanitarian law.They urged Israel not to remain silent or turn a blind eye to those deliberately starved as part of Hamas’s hunger campaign."We are in pain and we weep. There is no limit to the grief and cruelty we endure. There is no limit to the suffering that the Hamas terror organization inflicts on the hostages and on the residents of Gaza," the family stressed.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The family of Evyatar David said that their son only has a few days to live in this condition, adding, "Hamas is using our son, Evyatar, as a living experiment in a disgusting hunger campaign."

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday (August 2) published a video of an Israeli hostage, Evyatar David, a day after releasing a short clip of the captive. Following the release, David's family approved the media outlets to publish the 40-second clip. In the heartbreaking video, the hostage is seen crossing off dates on a calendar on the tunnel's wall. The family of Evyatar David stressed that they are forced to witness their beloved son in this condition. “We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother, Evyatar, deliberately and cynically starved in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza — a living skeleton buried alive," David's family said. They further said that their son only has a few days to live in this condition, adding, "Hamas is using our son, Evyatar, as a living experiment in a disgusting hunger campaign." "The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen. He is being starved purely to serve Hamas’s propaganda," they added. In the end of the video, David is seen digging his own grave, as he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to worry about him and other hostages. While digging, he said that he is feeling “weaker and weaker” by the day, and heading toward death. The family further urged Israel and the international community to ensure that David receives food and is released from Hamas' captivity. "Israel and the international community must oppose Hamas’s cruelty and ensure that our Evyatar immediately receives proper nutrition." They said that the "intentional starvation, torture and abuse" of their son for propaganda purposes violates even the lowest standards of humanitarian law. They urged Israel not to remain silent or turn a blind eye to those deliberately starved as part of Hamas’s hunger campaign. "We are in pain and we weep. There is no limit to the grief and cruelty we endure. There is no limit to the suffering that the Hamas terror organization inflicts on the hostages and on the residents of Gaza," the family stressed.

The family of Evyatar David said that their son only has a few days to live in this condition, adding, "Hamas is using our son, Evyatar, as a living experiment in a disgusting hunger campaign."

'Living skeleton digging own grave': Hamas releases clip of Israeli hostage, family urges Israel 'not to turn blind eye'

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that it had air-dropped aid into the war-torn Gaza Strip in coordination with six other countries, adding that around 126 packages of food were air-dropped for the Gazans in southern and northern Gaza by six countries. Notably, this is the first time a joint operation has been conducted with three European countries.&nbsp;The six countries that were included with Israel were the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Spain, France, and Germany. Last week, Jordan and the UAE airdropped 25 tonnes of aid into Gaza, which was the first airdrop in months.&nbsp;While refuting the starvation claims in Gaza, the Israeli military earlier said that it expanded air efforts to include airdrops to “improve the humanitarian response” and “refute false claims of intentional starvation in Gaza.”&nbsp;However, it is important to note that the airdrops are dangerous and insufficient to manage the increasing hunger and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as per experts.&nbsp;The Gaza aid agencies have stressed that parachuting crates of aid is a risky and inefficient alternative. Juliette Touma, the chief spokesperson for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said, "Why use airdrops when you can drive hundreds of trucks through the borders?”&nbsp;“It’s much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper,” she added.&nbsp;While Doctors Without Borders called the airdrop parcels "notoriously ineffective and dangerous", which forces people to "risk their lives for food."&nbsp;The United Nations’ humanitarian agency issued a statement in response to Israel's decision to allow airdrops, saying, "All efforts to provide aid to the people who desperately need it are welcome.” However, adding that the group and its partners "say that airdrops are the last resort measure and carry risks for people on the ground.”<h2>How does airdropping aid work?</h2>The military planes carry bundles of supplies and food to airdrop the food aid in Gaza. These supplies are loaded on pallets or flat platforms and are wrapped in netting so that it doesn't fall.&nbsp;These pallets are then attached to parachutes and pushed from the backs of aircraft to reach delivery areas.Some countries were dropping aid in Gaza last year; however, it stopped after some parcels fell and killed and injured people, while also damaging property.&nbsp;Meanwhile, some parcels landed in the sea or even in Israel. Reportedly, last year, at least five Palestinians were killed and many were injured in airdrop accidents, according to Gaza authorities.

The Gaza aid agencies have stressed that parachuting crates of aid is a risky and inefficient alternative. While Doctors Without Borders called the airdrop parcels "notoriously ineffective and dangerous", which forces people to "risk their lives for food."

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that it had air-dropped aid into the war-torn Gaza Strip in coordination with six other countries, adding that around 126 packages of food were air-dropped for the Gazans in southern and northern Gaza by six countries. Notably, this is the first time a joint operation has been conducted with three European countries. The six countries that were included with Israel were the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Spain, France, and Germany. Last week, Jordan and the UAE airdropped 25 tonnes of aid into Gaza, which was the first airdrop in months. While refuting the starvation claims in Gaza, the Israeli military earlier said that it expanded air efforts to include airdrops to “improve the humanitarian response” and “refute false claims of intentional starvation in Gaza.” However, it is important to note that the airdrops are dangerous and insufficient to manage the increasing hunger and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as per experts. The Gaza aid agencies have stressed that parachuting crates of aid is a risky and inefficient alternative. Juliette Touma, the chief spokesperson for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said, "Why use airdrops when you can drive hundreds of trucks through the borders?” “It’s much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper,” she added. While Doctors Without Borders called the airdrop parcels "notoriously ineffective and dangerous", which forces people to "risk their lives for food." The United Nations’ humanitarian agency issued a statement in response to Israel's decision to allow airdrops, saying, "All efforts to provide aid to the people who desperately need it are welcome.” However, adding that the group and its partners "say that airdrops are the last resort measure and carry risks for people on the ground.” How does airdropping aid work? The military planes carry bundles of supplies and food to airdrop the food aid in Gaza. These supplies are loaded on pallets or flat platforms and are wrapped in netting so that it doesn't fall. These pallets are then attached to parachutes and pushed from the backs of aircraft to reach delivery areas. Some countries were dropping aid in Gaza last year; however, it stopped after some parcels fell and killed and injured people, while also damaging property. Meanwhile, some parcels landed in the sea or even in Israel. Reportedly, last year, at least five Palestinians were killed and many were injured in airdrop accidents, according to Gaza authorities.

The Gaza aid agencies have stressed that parachuting crates of aid is a risky and inefficient alternative. While Doctors Without Borders called the airdrop parcels "notoriously ineffective and dangerous", which forces people to "risk their lives for food."

'Notoriously dangerous': Why airdrops in Gaza are risky last resort - Know as Israel airdrops 126 packages of aid amid mass starvation

After Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel and the US Justice Department issued a memo on the Epstein case, Patel's girlfriend Alexis Wilkins has been involved in several conspiracy theories, one of which accused her of being Israel's Mossad agent, sent to manipulate the FBI director. Wilkins has now been pushing back the theories and rumours, describing it as "incredibly disheartening." The 26-year-old singer has been slammed on the internet, as some called her "honeypotting" Kash Patel on behalf of another nation, according to a New York Post report. Alexis, while speaking on the "Megyn Kelly Show", said that the critics twisted her background, adding that, "I think people see certain pieces and I get it." “They want to connect things, they want to justify, some of the pain that they’ve been through watching the last four years, and there are pieces of this that, you know, I can understand,” she said. She added, "I think that they’ve taken just these pieces of evidence that you laid out and tied them together in all of the wrong ways.” All this comes after the US Justice Department closed the Epstein case and concluded that there was no foul play in Epstein's death. Since many people believe Epstein was a Mossad agent, they assumed that there is Israeli pressure on the US cover-up of Epstein files and Wilkins is the "honeypot". "The fact that it's accusing me of manipulating the person I love is a horrible accusation," Alexis said on Megyn Kelly's show. Some of the theories were based on Wilkin's past, as she was connected with PragerU, a conservative media nonprofit. Its CEO, Marissa Streit, once served in the Israeli army. But, Kash Patel's girlfriend has no ties with Israel and is Armenian and Christian. When Megyn Kelly asked her directly if she was a spy, Wilkins firmly responded, “Definitely not, that is a firm no on that front.” Earlier last month, Wilkins took to X, and while expressing frustration, called the accusations "insanely ridiculous"."It’s disappointing to see people with no real contribution to political discourse spin ridiculous conspiracy theories out of thin air,” she wrote. “These accusations are obviously insanely ridiculous.”<h2>FBI director frustrated</h2>When Megyn Kelly asked Wilkins about the FBI director's reaction to the online criticism, she said that Patel is fine with people coming after him, but he got frustrated when it came to her. She added that Patel is not allowed to speak about his work with her and she knows nothing more than what the public gets to know. "He was very unhappy to say the least," Wilkins said. Addressing why there's very little information about her personal life, she said that he wanted that "childhood" side to be protected, not because she is a "spy" for any government.&nbsp;

The 26-year-old singer has been slammed on the internet, as some called her "honeypotting" Kash Patel on behalf of another nation, according to a New York Post report.

After Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel and the US Justice Department issued a memo on the Epstein case, Patel's girlfriend Alexis Wilkins has been involved in several conspiracy theories, one of which accused her of being Israel's Mossad agent, sent to manipulate the FBI director. Wilkins has now been pushing back the theories and rumours, describing it as "incredibly disheartening." The 26-year-old singer has been slammed on the internet, as some called her "honeypotting" Kash Patel on behalf of another nation, according to a New York Post report. Alexis, while speaking on the "Megyn Kelly Show", said that the critics twisted her background, adding that, "I think people see certain pieces and I get it." “They want to connect things, they want to justify, some of the pain that they’ve been through watching the last four years, and there are pieces of this that, you know, I can understand,” she said. She added, "I think that they’ve taken just these pieces of evidence that you laid out and tied them together in all of the wrong ways.” All this comes after the US Justice Department closed the Epstein case and concluded that there was no foul play in Epstein's death. Since many people believe Epstein was a Mossad agent, they assumed that there is Israeli pressure on the US cover-up of Epstein files and Wilkins is the "honeypot". "The fact that it's accusing me of manipulating the person I love is a horrible accusation," Alexis said on Megyn Kelly's show. Some of the theories were based on Wilkin's past, as she was connected with PragerU, a conservative media nonprofit. Its CEO, Marissa Streit, once served in the Israeli army. But, Kash Patel's girlfriend has no ties with Israel and is Armenian and Christian. When Megyn Kelly asked her directly if she was a spy, Wilkins firmly responded, “Definitely not, that is a firm no on that front.” Earlier last month, Wilkins took to X, and while expressing frustration, called the accusations "insanely ridiculous". "It’s disappointing to see people with no real contribution to political discourse spin ridiculous conspiracy theories out of thin air,” she wrote. “These accusations are obviously insanely ridiculous.” FBI director frustrated When Megyn Kelly asked Wilkins about the FBI director's reaction to the online criticism, she said that Patel is fine with people coming after him, but he got frustrated when it came to her. She added that Patel is not allowed to speak about his work with her and she knows nothing more than what the public gets to know. "He was very unhappy to say the least," Wilkins said. Addressing why there's very little information about her personal life, she said that he wanted that "childhood" side to be protected, not because she is a "spy" for any government.

The 26-year-old singer has been slammed on the internet, as some called her "honeypotting" Kash Patel on behalf of another nation, according to a New York Post report.

Was Kash Patel's girlfriend Alexis Wilkins 'honeypotting' FBI director? Here's how she reacted to Mossad spy claims

US President Donald Trump opened his new golf course in Aberdeen during his visit to Scotland on Tuesday (July 29). The president, after cutting the ribbons, played a round of golf before returning to Washington. Trump was accompanied by his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Junior as he cut a long red ribbon to mark the official opening of the golf course.&nbsp;During the ceremony, the US president's signature song "YMCA" was being played at the course, and then the family exited the tee area before he hit a drive.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’ll play it very quickly and then I go back to D.C. and we put out fires all over the world,” Trump said at the opening ceremony. He told the crowd that he loved Scotland, and promised a "special decade" coming up.&nbsp;While referring to reaching a ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia, he added, “We did one yesterday, as you know, we stopped the war. “That’s much more important than playing golf. As much as I like it, it’s much more important."&nbsp;As Trump hit the drive, his son Eric also did the same, followed by Irish professional golfer Paul McGinley and American professional golfer Rich Beem.&nbsp;Moreover, Trump called the Aberdeen course “an unbelievable development” during his remarks.&nbsp;As they were about to leave the course, a reporter asked a question as he shouted, asking what he would say to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the war in Gaza. To this, Trump replied, "he's trying to get things straightened out."&nbsp;“I guess we’re going to be hitting a couple of balls. And we’re going to play the round,” he added. “I’ll be playing quickly and then I’ll be heading back. I look forward to that, but I really look forward to playing," Trump said, referring to the Israel-Gaza war.<h2>Know about new golf course</h2>The new 18-hole golf course is located outside of Aberdeen, a city in Scotland. It will be named after US President Donald Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was also born in Scotland.&nbsp;Notably, Trump owns two other golf courses in Scotland, one of which was opened in 2012 in Aberdeen and another opened in 2014, located in Turnberry.&nbsp;During his visit, Trump on Saturday golfed as protesters took to the streets on Sunday. The US president even invited UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer aboard Air Force One so the prime minister could get a private tour of his Aberdeen property before Tuesday's ceremonial opening.&nbsp;

During the ceremony, Trump's signature song "YMCA" was being played at the course, and then the family exited the tee area before he hit a drive. 

US President Donald Trump opened his new golf course in Aberdeen during his visit to Scotland on Tuesday (July 29). The president, after cutting the ribbons, played a round of golf before returning to Washington. Trump was accompanied by his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Junior as he cut a long red ribbon to mark the official opening of the golf course. During the ceremony, the US president's signature song "YMCA" was being played at the course, and then the family exited the tee area before he hit a drive. “We’ll play it very quickly and then I go back to D.C. and we put out fires all over the world,” Trump said at the opening ceremony. He told the crowd that he loved Scotland, and promised a "special decade" coming up. While referring to reaching a ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia, he added, “We did one yesterday, as you know, we stopped the war. “That’s much more important than playing golf. As much as I like it, it’s much more important." As Trump hit the drive, his son Eric also did the same, followed by Irish professional golfer Paul McGinley and American professional golfer Rich Beem. Moreover, Trump called the Aberdeen course “an unbelievable development” during his remarks. As they were about to leave the course, a reporter asked a question as he shouted, asking what he would say to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the war in Gaza. To this, Trump replied, "he's trying to get things straightened out." “I guess we’re going to be hitting a couple of balls. And we’re going to play the round,” he added. “I’ll be playing quickly and then I’ll be heading back. I look forward to that, but I really look forward to playing," Trump said, referring to the Israel-Gaza war. Know about new golf course The new 18-hole golf course is located outside of Aberdeen, a city in Scotland. It will be named after US President Donald Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was also born in Scotland. Notably, Trump owns two other golf courses in Scotland, one of which was opened in 2012 in Aberdeen and another opened in 2014, located in Turnberry. During his visit, Trump on Saturday golfed as protesters took to the streets on Sunday. The US president even invited UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer aboard Air Force One so the prime minister could get a private tour of his Aberdeen property before Tuesday's ceremonial opening.

During the ceremony, Trump's signature song "YMCA" was being played at the course, and then the family exited the tee area before he hit a drive.&nbsp;

'Trump loves Scotland': US president opens new golf course in Aberdeen, will be heading home with focus on Gaza war

As Gaza suffers from a major humanitarian aid crisis, a Gaza-based photojournalist shared a post on LinkedIn, writing that he wants to sell his equipment and the press shield to buy food for himself and his family. Mohammed Abu Aoun shared the dark side of what's happening in Gaza as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas again faced a setback, with no conclusion yet.&nbsp;Abu Aoun posted on LinkedIn, sharing what he's going through as people in Gaza die due to starvation and malnutrition.“I am the photojournalist Mohammed Abu Aoun from Gaza. I want to offer my equipment and the press shield for sale so that I can buy food for me and my family,” Abu Aoun wrote. The post later triggered widespread attention.&nbsp;

Israel has been stopping aid and food deliveries from entering Gaza, leading to the deaths of children as well as the elderly. Notably, this month, the number of children dying due to malnutrition has increased. Riham Dwas, a mother of five, while expressing her ordeal, said, "We’ve been living three months without bread. We’re relying on charity kitchens, surviving on a pot of lentils, and there are many times when we don’t even have that.” People keep on standing in long lines in front of a charity kitchen in Gaza City, waiting for nothing gourmet, but just a watery lentil soup. The United Nations has raised concerns over people dying in Gaza due to hunger. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has strongly criticised the use of airdrops to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling them “inefficient” and a “distraction” from addressing the root causes of the crisis. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said, "Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians. It is a distraction and screensmoke”. His remark comes as the UK plans to step up its involvement in international efforts to deliver aid by air. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the government will move forward with the plan to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children who need medical assistance.

Israel has been stopping aid and food deliveries from entering Gaza, leading to the deaths of children as well as the elderly. Notably, this month, the number of children dying due to malnutrition has increased.

As Gaza suffers from a major humanitarian aid crisis, a Gaza-based photojournalist shared a post on LinkedIn, writing that he wants to sell his equipment and the press shield to buy food for himself and his family. Mohammed Abu Aoun shared the dark side of what's happening in Gaza as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas again faced a setback, with no conclusion yet. Abu Aoun posted on LinkedIn, sharing what he's going through as people in Gaza die due to starvation and malnutrition. “I am the photojournalist Mohammed Abu Aoun from Gaza. I want to offer my equipment and the press shield for sale so that I can buy food for me and my family,” Abu Aoun wrote. The post later triggered widespread attention.

Israel has been stopping aid and food deliveries from entering Gaza, leading to the deaths of children as well as the elderly. Notably, this month, the number of children dying due to malnutrition has increased.

'Press shield for sale': Photojournalist puts his equipment on sale to feed his family as Gaza suffers mass starvation

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had announced a new decree for all soldiers and officers in the intelligence wing, making it mandatory for them to train in the Arabic language and learn Islamic studies. The training will also include Houthi and Iraqi dialects, since the Israeli intelligence personnel have faced problems in deciphering Houthi communication.&nbsp;According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, all members of AMAN, which is the Hebrew short form for Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate, will be trained in Islamic Studies by the end of next year.&nbsp;The decision was made by AMAN Head Major General Shlomi Binder. Moreover, half of the soldiers will also be receiving training in Arabic.<h2>Why did IDF make Arabic mandatory for military?</h2>According to the Israeli local media report, the IDF's Intelligence Directorate will be making these new changes in the military. This comes after Israel faced major intelligence setbacks linked to the events of the October 7 Hamas terror attack.&nbsp;The move will help in making future commanders fluent in Arabic and knowledgeable about Islamic culture, further helping them analyse situations more effectively when needed.&nbsp;Doron Kadosh, the military correspondent for Israel’s Army Radio, told the Jerusalem Post that a new department will be set up to focus on Arabic and Islamic teaching for the soldiers and officers.&nbsp;Additionally, along with other changes, the IDF is also planning to restart the Telem. Earlier, the Telem programme supported Arabic and Middle Eastern education in Israeli middle and high schools, but six years ago, it was closed due to a funding crisis.&nbsp;A senior AMAN officer told Army Radio, "Until now, we haven't been good enough in the areas of culture, language, and Islam. We need to improve in these areas. We won't turn our intelligence officers and soldiers into Arab kids who grew up in a village, but through language and cultural studies, we can instill in them doubt and deep observation."&nbsp;By the end of next year, all intelligence soldiers, including cyber experts from Unit 8200, will be trained in Islamic studies, and 50 per cent of them will be trained in Arabic.&nbsp;

According to the Israeli local media report, the IDF's Intelligence Directorate will be making these new changes in the military. This comes after Israel faced major intelligence setbacks linked to the events of the October 7 Hamas terror attack.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had announced a new decree for all soldiers and officers in the intelligence wing, making it mandatory for them to train in the Arabic language and learn Islamic studies. The training will also include Houthi and Iraqi dialects, since the Israeli intelligence personnel have faced problems in deciphering Houthi communication. According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, all members of AMAN, which is the Hebrew short form for Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate, will be trained in Islamic Studies by the end of next year. The decision was made by AMAN Head Major General Shlomi Binder. Moreover, half of the soldiers will also be receiving training in Arabic. Why did IDF make Arabic mandatory for military? According to the Israeli local media report, the IDF's Intelligence Directorate will be making these new changes in the military. This comes after Israel faced major intelligence setbacks linked to the events of the October 7 Hamas terror attack. The move will help in making future commanders fluent in Arabic and knowledgeable about Islamic culture, further helping them analyse situations more effectively when needed. Doron Kadosh, the military correspondent for Israel’s Army Radio, told the Jerusalem Post that a new department will be set up to focus on Arabic and Islamic teaching for the soldiers and officers. Additionally, along with other changes, the IDF is also planning to restart the Telem. Earlier, the Telem programme supported Arabic and Middle Eastern education in Israeli middle and high schools, but six years ago, it was closed due to a funding crisis. A senior AMAN officer told Army Radio, "Until now, we haven't been good enough in the areas of culture, language, and Islam. We need to improve in these areas. We won't turn our intelligence officers and soldiers into Arab kids who grew up in a village, but through language and cultural studies, we can instill in them doubt and deep observation." By the end of next year, all intelligence soldiers, including cyber experts from Unit 8200, will be trained in Islamic studies, and 50 per cent of them will be trained in Arabic.

According to the Israeli local media report, the IDF's Intelligence Directorate will be making these new changes in the military. This comes after Israel faced major intelligence setbacks linked to the events of the October 7 Hamas terror attack.

Israel mandates Arabic and Islamic studies for military, intelligence officers - What's the reason behind it?

Iran has witnessed a string of mysterious fires and explosions for more than two weeks, raising suspicions among Iranians. Apartment complexes, oil refineries, a road near a major airport, as well as a shoe factory, were set ablaze, creating panic among people. All this comes just over a month after the Israel-Iran war ended with several casualties.&nbsp;Publicly, the Iranian officials have tried to play down the events, calling them mere coincidence, and have blamed the aging infrastructure for it.&nbsp;However, in private, three Iranian officials, including a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), told The New York Times that they believed that many of these incidents were acts of sabotage.&nbsp;The officials have been pointing at Israel as it has a history of covert operations in Iran, including explosions and blasts. Moreover, Iran also does not want to “corner itself into having to retaliate against Israel.”<h2>Series of blasts</h2>There were several explosions and blasts in Iran in the last two weeks, which included a blaze in northeast Iran near Mashhad International Airport, which authorities said was “controlled burning of weeds“.&nbsp;The authorities blamed the worn-out infrastructure for the gas explosions.&nbsp;Moreover, a European official who deals with Iran, told the New York Times that he assessed the attacks as "sabotage" and suspected Israel to be behind it. According to the official, Israel could be using such attacks as a "psychological warfare and to take out targets.”&nbsp;However, Israel has not reacted to it. Moreover, Iranian officials also hesitated to publicly blame Israel for the blasts. In June, according to a local newspaper, Mossad chief David Barnea said, “We will continue to keep a close watch on every project in Iran, which we know thoroughly. We will be there, just as we have been up until now.”

There have been a series of gas explosions and fires in Iran for more than two weeks now, with Iranian officials publicly blaming the aging infrastructure for it. Meanwhile, three Iranian officials, anonymously, hinted that these incidents were acts of sabotage.

Iran has witnessed a string of mysterious fires and explosions for more than two weeks, raising suspicions among Iranians. Apartment complexes, oil refineries, a road near a major airport, as well as a shoe factory, were set ablaze, creating panic among people. All this comes just over a month after the Israel-Iran war ended with several casualties. Publicly, the Iranian officials have tried to play down the events, calling them mere coincidence, and have blamed the aging infrastructure for it. However, in private, three Iranian officials, including a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), told The New York Times that they believed that many of these incidents were acts of sabotage. The officials have been pointing at Israel as it has a history of covert operations in Iran, including explosions and blasts. Moreover, Iran also does not want to “corner itself into having to retaliate against Israel.” Series of blasts There were several explosions and blasts in Iran in the last two weeks, which included a blaze in northeast Iran near Mashhad International Airport, which authorities said was “controlled burning of weeds“. The authorities blamed the worn-out infrastructure for the gas explosions. Moreover, a European official who deals with Iran, told the New York Times that he assessed the attacks as "sabotage" and suspected Israel to be behind it. According to the official, Israel could be using such attacks as a "psychological warfare and to take out targets.” However, Israel has not reacted to it. Moreover, Iranian officials also hesitated to publicly blame Israel for the blasts. In June, according to a local newspaper, Mossad chief David Barnea said, “We will continue to keep a close watch on every project in Iran, which we know thoroughly. We will be there, just as we have been up until now.”

There have been a series of gas explosions and fires in Iran for more than two weeks now, with Iranian officials publicly blaming the aging infrastructure for it. Meanwhile, three Iranian officials, anonymously, hinted that these incidents were acts of sabotage.

Acts of sabotage or mere coincidence? Mysterious fires and explosions in Iran raise suspicions - Here's what officials suspect

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians trying to collect humanitarian aid in the war-torn Palestinian territory on Sunday, killing 73 people and wounding dozens more. At least 67 were killed as truckloads of aid arrived in the north, while six others were reported shot near an aid point close to Rafah in the south, where dozens of people lost their lives just 24 hours earlier.&nbsp;The UN World Food Programme said its 25-truck convoy carrying food aid "encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire" near Gaza City, soon after it crossed from Israel and cleared checkpoints.&nbsp;Israel's military disputed the death toll and said soldiers had fired warning shots "to remove an immediate threat posed to them" as thousands gathered near Gaza City.&nbsp;Deaths of civilians seeking aid have become a regular occurrence in Gaza, with the authorities blaming Israeli fire as crowds facing chronic shortages of food and other essentials flock in huge numbers to aid centres.&nbsp;The UN said earlier this month that nearly 800 aid-seekers had been killed since late May, including on the routes of aid convoys.&nbsp;<h2>'Sniper' fire &nbsp;</h2>In Gaza City, Qasem Abu Khater, 36, told AFP he had rushed to try to get a bag of flour but instead found a desperate crowd of thousands and "deadly overcrowding and pushing".&nbsp;"The tanks were firing shells randomly at us and Israeli sniper soldiers were shooting as if they were hunting animals in a forest," he added.&nbsp;"Dozens of people were martyred right before my eyes and no one could save anyone."Civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP the death toll was 67 and expected to rise while the WFP condemned violence against civilians seeking aid as "completely unacceptable".&nbsp;"Israeli forces' gunfire" was responsible for the deaths in the south, he added.&nbsp;Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the agency and other parties.&nbsp;The army has maintained that it works to avoid harm to civilians, saying this month that it issued new instructions to its troops on the ground "following lessons learned" from a spate of similar incidents.&nbsp;<h2>Papal call</h2> The war was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.&nbsp;Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 58,895 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday expressed his regret to Pope Leo XIV after what he described as a "stray" munition killed three people sheltering at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City.&nbsp;At the end of the Angelus prayer on Sunday, the pope slammed the "barbarity" of the Gaza war and called for peace, days after the Israeli strike on the territory's only Catholic church.&nbsp;The strike was part of the "ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza", he added.&nbsp;"I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations."&nbsp;The Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, held mass at the Gaza church on Sunday after travelling to the devastated territory in a rare visit on Friday.&nbsp;<h2>'Expanding' operations</h2> Most of Gaza's population of more than two million people have been displaced at least once during the war and there have been repeated evacuation calls across large parts of the coastal enclave.&nbsp;On Sunday morning, the Israeli military told residents and displaced Palestinians sheltering in the Deir el-Balah area to move south immediately.&nbsp;Israel was "expanding its activities" against Hamas around Deir el-Balah, "where it has not operated before", the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.&nbsp;The announcement prompted concern from families of hostages held since October 7, 2023 that the Israeli offensive could harm their loved ones.&nbsp;Delegations from Israel and militant group Hamas have spent the last two weeks in indirect talks on a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 10 living hostages.&nbsp;Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Deaths of civilians seeking aid have become a regular occurrence in Gaza, with the authorities blaming Israeli fire as crowds facing chronic shortages of food and other essentials flock in huge numbers to aid centres.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians trying to collect humanitarian aid in the war-torn Palestinian territory on Sunday, killing 73 people and wounding dozens more. At least 67 were killed as truckloads of aid arrived in the north, while six others were reported shot near an aid point close to Rafah in the south, where dozens of people lost their lives just 24 hours earlier. The UN World Food Programme said its 25-truck convoy carrying food aid "encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire" near Gaza City, soon after it crossed from Israel and cleared checkpoints. Israel's military disputed the death toll and said soldiers had fired warning shots "to remove an immediate threat posed to them" as thousands gathered near Gaza City. Deaths of civilians seeking aid have become a regular occurrence in Gaza, with the authorities blaming Israeli fire as crowds facing chronic shortages of food and other essentials flock in huge numbers to aid centres. The UN said earlier this month that nearly 800 aid-seekers had been killed since late May, including on the routes of aid convoys. 'Sniper' fire In Gaza City, Qasem Abu Khater, 36, told AFP he had rushed to try to get a bag of flour but instead found a desperate crowd of thousands and "deadly overcrowding and pushing". "The tanks were firing shells randomly at us and Israeli sniper soldiers were shooting as if they were hunting animals in a forest," he added. "Dozens of people were martyred right before my eyes and no one could save anyone." Civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP the death toll was 67 and expected to rise while the WFP condemned violence against civilians seeking aid as "completely unacceptable". "Israeli forces' gunfire" was responsible for the deaths in the south, he added. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the agency and other parties. The army has maintained that it works to avoid harm to civilians, saying this month that it issued new instructions to its troops on the ground "following lessons learned" from a spate of similar incidents. Papal call The war was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 58,895 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday expressed his regret to Pope Leo XIV after what he described as a "stray" munition killed three people sheltering at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. At the end of the Angelus prayer on Sunday, the pope slammed the "barbarity" of the Gaza war and called for peace, days after the Israeli strike on the territory's only Catholic church. The strike was part of the "ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza", he added. "I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations." The Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, held mass at the Gaza church on Sunday after travelling to the devastated territory in a rare visit on Friday. 'Expanding' operations Most of Gaza's population of more than two million people have been displaced at least once during the war and there have been repeated evacuation calls across large parts of the coastal enclave. On Sunday morning, the Israeli military told residents and displaced Palestinians sheltering in the Deir el-Balah area to move south immediately. Israel was "expanding its activities" against Hamas around Deir el-Balah, "where it has not operated before", the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X. The announcement prompted concern from families of hostages held since October 7, 2023 that the Israeli offensive could harm their loved ones. Delegations from Israel and militant group Hamas have spent the last two weeks in indirect talks on a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 10 living hostages. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Deaths of civilians seeking aid have become a regular occurrence in Gaza, with the authorities blaming Israeli fire as crowds facing chronic shortages of food and other essentials flock in huge numbers to aid centres.

Israeli forces kills 73 aid seekers, says Gaza civil defence agency

The head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, visited Washington this week to seek US support for a controversial plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, according to a report by Axios. During his meeting with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Barnea said that Israel has been in talks with Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya to accept large numbers of Palestinians displaced by the war in Gaza.He reportedly urged the US to offer incentives to those countries and help Israel make the plan a reality. Witkoff did not commit to anything during the discussion, and it is unclear whether the US government will get involved.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-much-better-off-starting-anew-trump-tells-iran-to-rebuild-nuclear-sites-elsewhere-so-they-can-be-obliterated-again-1752940619494">'Much better off starting anew': Trump tells Iran to rebuild nuclear sites elsewhere so they can be ‘obliterated’ again</a><h2>Why is the plan controversial?</h2>Israel’s government has described the move as a “voluntary” relocation, but both American and Israeli legal experts have said such actions could amount to a war crime. Nearly all of Gaza’s two million residents have been displaced during the ongoing conflict. Most buildings in the territory have been damaged or destroyed, and people have been forced to flee repeatedly, often with nowhere safe to go.Israel has been developing a strategy to move all Gazans to a narrow “humanitarian zone” near the Egyptian border. The plan has triggered serious concerns in Egypt and several Western capitals, where leaders fear it could be a step toward the mass removal of Palestinians from the territory.<h2>What countries are involved?</h2>Barnea told the US that Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya had shown “openness” to accepting displaced Palestinians. A senior Israeli official later claimed that any relocation would be “voluntary and not forced,” and that Palestinians who leave would be allowed to return to Gaza at any time. However, this claim has been widely questioned, with critics pointing out that people fleeing war zones with nowhere to live cannot truly be said to be making a free choice.<h2>Has this been proposed before?</h2>Back in February, US President Donald Trump proposed a similar plan to remove all Palestinians from Gaza and rebuild the region. But following strong opposition from Arab nations, the White House stepped back from the idea, according to US officials. Later, Trump’s administration told Israeli leaders that if Netanyahu wanted to go ahead with the idea, he would need to secure agreements from other countries willing to take in Palestinians. Netanyahu then tasked Mossad with finding those partners, leading to Barnea’s recent visit to Washington.<h2>What are leaders saying now?</h2>Speaking during his visit to the White House last week, Netanyahu said Israel was “working very closely” with the US to identify countries willing to accept Palestinians. He also referred to Trump’s earlier proposal, “I think President Trump had a brilliant vision. It’s called free choice. You know, if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn’t be a prison,” Netanyahu said. Following a private dinner, a senior Israeli official told reporters that Trump remains interested in pursuing the idea of Palestinian relocation. However, the White House has not publicly commented on the issue.

Israel has been developing a strategy to move all Gazans to a narrow ‘humanitarian zone’ near the Egyptian border. The plan has triggered serious concerns in Egypt and several Western capitals, where leaders fear it could be a step toward the mass removal of Palestinians from the territory.

The head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, visited Washington this week to seek US support for a controversial plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, according to a report by Axios. During his meeting with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Barnea said that Israel has been in talks with Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya to accept large numbers of Palestinians displaced by the war in Gaza. He reportedly urged the US to offer incentives to those countries and help Israel make the plan a reality. Witkoff did not commit to anything during the discussion, and it is unclear whether the US government will get involved. Also read: 'Much better off starting anew': Trump tells Iran to rebuild nuclear sites elsewhere so they can be ‘obliterated’ again Why is the plan controversial? Israel’s government has described the move as a “voluntary” relocation, but both American and Israeli legal experts have said such actions could amount to a war crime. Nearly all of Gaza’s two million residents have been displaced during the ongoing conflict. Most buildings in the territory have been damaged or destroyed, and people have been forced to flee repeatedly, often with nowhere safe to go. Israel has been developing a strategy to move all Gazans to a narrow “humanitarian zone” near the Egyptian border. The plan has triggered serious concerns in Egypt and several Western capitals, where leaders fear it could be a step toward the mass removal of Palestinians from the territory. What countries are involved? Barnea told the US that Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya had shown “openness” to accepting displaced Palestinians. A senior Israeli official later claimed that any relocation would be “voluntary and not forced,” and that Palestinians who leave would be allowed to return to Gaza at any time. However, this claim has been widely questioned, with critics pointing out that people fleeing war zones with nowhere to live cannot truly be said to be making a free choice. Has this been proposed before? Back in February, US President Donald Trump proposed a similar plan to remove all Palestinians from Gaza and rebuild the region. But following strong opposition from Arab nations, the White House stepped back from the idea, according to US officials. Later, Trump’s administration told Israeli leaders that if Netanyahu wanted to go ahead with the idea, he would need to secure agreements from other countries willing to take in Palestinians. Netanyahu then tasked Mossad with finding those partners, leading to Barnea’s recent visit to Washington. What are leaders saying now? Speaking during his visit to the White House last week, Netanyahu said Israel was “working very closely” with the US to identify countries willing to accept Palestinians. He also referred to Trump’s earlier proposal, “I think President Trump had a brilliant vision. It’s called free choice. You know, if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn’t be a prison,” Netanyahu said. Following a private dinner, a senior Israeli official told reporters that Trump remains interested in pursuing the idea of Palestinian relocation. However, the White House has not publicly commented on the issue.

Israel has been developing a strategy to move all Gazans to a narrow ‘humanitarian zone’ near the Egyptian border. The plan has triggered serious concerns in Egypt and several Western capitals, where leaders fear it could be a step toward the mass removal of Palestinians from the territory.

Trump to help Israel relocate Palestinians out of Gaza? Ethiopia, Indonesia and Libya named as options

The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has accused Israel of blocking progress in talks for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. Negotiators from both sides have been holding indirect talks in Qatar since July 6. They are trying to agree on a 60-day truce that would include the release of 10 hostages. But after nearly two weeks, there has been no deal. Both Israel and Hamas are blaming each other for not compromising.&nbsp;Israel wants Hamas to be dismantled as a military threat. On the other hand, Hamas wants clear promises for lasting peace, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and more humanitarian aid allowed in.On Friday (July 18), Abu Obaida, the spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing (the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades), said in a video statement that Hamas had offered a full deal to release all hostages at once. But he said Israel rejected the offer and warned that if Israel continues to resist, Hamas may withdraw its current offer to release 10 hostages.&nbsp;Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that the talks are still in the early stages. He denied claims of a deadlock and said there’s no fixed deadline to reach an agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would consider talks for a long-term ceasefire, but only after a temporary truce is in place.&nbsp;The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,219 people — mostly civilians — and taking 251 hostages. According to the Israeli military, 49 hostages are still in Gaza, including 27 who are believed to be dead. In response, Israel launched military strikes that have killed 58,667 Palestinians — mostly civilians — according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable.

Hamas armed wing says Israel blocking ceasefire and hostage release talks

The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has accused Israel of blocking progress in talks for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. Negotiators from both sides have been holding indirect talks in Qatar since July 6. They are trying to agree on a 60-day truce that would include the release of 10 hostages. But after nearly two weeks, there has been no deal. Both Israel and Hamas are blaming each other for not compromising. Israel wants Hamas to be dismantled as a military threat. On the other hand, Hamas wants clear promises for lasting peace, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and more humanitarian aid allowed in. On Friday (July 18), Abu Obaida, the spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing (the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades), said in a video statement that Hamas had offered a full deal to release all hostages at once. But he said Israel rejected the offer and warned that if Israel continues to resist, Hamas may withdraw its current offer to release 10 hostages. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that the talks are still in the early stages. He denied claims of a deadlock and said there’s no fixed deadline to reach an agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would consider talks for a long-term ceasefire, but only after a temporary truce is in place. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,219 people — mostly civilians — and taking 251 hostages. According to the Israeli military, 49 hostages are still in Gaza, including 27 who are believed to be dead. In response, Israel launched military strikes that have killed 58,667 Palestinians — mostly civilians — according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable.

Negotiators from both sides have been in indirect talks in Qatar since July 6 to try to agree on a 60-day ceasefire in the conflict, which would see 10 captives freed

A video surfaced on social media platform X claims to show that hundreds of Arab tribal fighters moving towards Syria to fight Druze. However, the timing of the video cannot be verified independently by WION. Meanwhile, tribesmen backed by the Islamist-led government of Syria clashed with Druze warriors outside Sweida on Friday (July 18) a day after government forces pulled out of the Druze-majority city, the warring factions and a monitoring group said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Suweida, Syria is filled with thousands of fighters from Arab tribes who have mobilized against the Druze. <a href="https://t.co/Dq6R8Uetx9">pic.twitter.com/Dq6R8Uetx9</a>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/1946099804158787624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, “clashes west of Sweida pitting tribal fighters and Bedouin backed by the authorities against Druze fighters.” Fighting has been confirmed on both sides. Syrian regime forces retreated from Sweida province on Thursday (July 17) after heavy shelling by Israel. They withdrew from Syria's Druze heartland at the orders of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who said that mediation efforts by the United States and others had prevented a "large-scale escalation" with Israel.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-war-in-west-asia-here-s-why-israel-is-bombing-syria-to-protect-druze-minorities-who-they-are-1752654725486">Who are the Druze and why is Israel bombing Syria in name of protecting this minority community?</a>&nbsp;Almost 600 people have been killed in Sweida province since Sunday, the Observatory said, as Druze militiamen battled against Sunni Bedouin tribes, who were eventually supported by government troops.A truce came into place on Thursday (July 17), but Sharaa's office blamed Druze forces for violating the agreement. Bedouin fighters converged on Sweida on Friday to support the Bedouin, taking positions in a number of villages outside the city.&nbsp;Occasional shooting and blasts were heard and smoke rising from the villages was also seen. Druze militiamen told news agency AFP that they were counter-attacking the sources of fire. Anas al-Enad, a tribal sheikh in the central city of Hama, said he and his men had traveled to the village of Walgha, northwest of Sweida, because "the Bedouin called for our help and we came to support them".

Video claims to show hundreds of Arab tribal fighters moving towards Syria to fight Druze

A video surfaced on social media platform X claims to show that hundreds of Arab tribal fighters moving towards Syria to fight Druze. However, the timing of the video cannot be verified independently by WION. Meanwhile, tribesmen backed by the Islamist-led government of Syria clashed with Druze warriors outside Sweida on Friday (July 18) a day after government forces pulled out of the Druze-majority city, the warring factions and a monitoring group said.

However, the timing of the video cannot be verified. Meanwhile, Syrian government forces withdrew from Sweida province on Thursday (July 17) after coming under heavy bombardment by Israel

Europe's largest missile maker company has been selling key components for bombs, which have been shipped to Israel, as they used them in airstrikes on Gaza, killing thousands of Palestinians, according to a Guardian report. Concerns have been raised about the extent to which European companies have been benefiting from the killings in Gaza.&nbsp;A Guardian investigation with the independent newsrooms Disclose and Follow the Money detailed how the GBU-39 bomb generated by the US arm MBDA flew through the United Kingdom.<h2>Here's how they are doing it&nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>There's a factory in Alabama, US, owned by MBDA, which produces "wings", that are fitted to the Boeing-made GBU-39. After being launched, these wings allow the bomb to be guided to its target.&nbsp;The revenues from the MBDA sailed through MBDA UK, which is based in Hertfordshire, England, and then shared the profits with the MBDA group at its France headquarters. According to the report, the European largest missile maker company distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders, including Britain’s biggest defence firm BAE Systems, France’s Airbus, and Italy’s Leonardo.&nbsp;This came to light as UK Foreign Minister David Lammy suspended some weapons export licenses to Israel in September, citing the risk of "serious violations" of international humanitarian law.&nbsp;He stressed that the suspension is aimed at targeting “items which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza”.However, as the outlet investigated, it was verified that there have been 24 cases in which the GBU-39 was deployed in attacks that have killed several civilians. Moreover, each one included children among those killed.&nbsp;Later, the company MBDA confirmed that they had a contract with Boeing for the wings. It said that they "comply with all relevant national and international laws applicable to the arms trade in the countries in which it operates...all of whom have export policies and operate robust export control regimes”.

European largest missile maker firm MBDA have been selling bomb parts to Israel as it uses it for airstrikes in Gaza, which has killed thousands of people. The company has distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders. 

Europe's largest missile maker company has been selling key components for bombs, which have been shipped to Israel, as they used them in airstrikes on Gaza, killing thousands of Palestinians, according to a Guardian report. Concerns have been raised about the extent to which European companies have been benefiting from the killings in Gaza. A Guardian investigation with the independent newsrooms Disclose and Follow the Money detailed how the GBU-39 bomb generated by the US arm MBDA flew through the United Kingdom. Here's how they are doing it There's a factory in Alabama, US, owned by MBDA, which produces "wings", that are fitted to the Boeing-made GBU-39. After being launched, these wings allow the bomb to be guided to its target. The revenues from the MBDA sailed through MBDA UK, which is based in Hertfordshire, England, and then shared the profits with the MBDA group at its France headquarters. According to the report, the European largest missile maker company distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders, including Britain’s biggest defence firm BAE Systems, France’s Airbus, and Italy’s Leonardo. This came to light as UK Foreign Minister David Lammy suspended some weapons export licenses to Israel in September, citing the risk of "serious violations" of international humanitarian law. He stressed that the suspension is aimed at targeting “items which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza”. However, as the outlet investigated, it was verified that there have been 24 cases in which the GBU-39 was deployed in attacks that have killed several civilians. Moreover, each one included children among those killed. Later, the company MBDA confirmed that they had a contract with Boeing for the wings. It said that they "comply with all relevant national and international laws applicable to the arms trade in the countries in which it operates...all of whom have export policies and operate robust export control regimes”.

European's largest missile maker firm MBDA have been selling bomb parts to Israel as it uses it for airstrikes in Gaza, which has killed thousands of people. The company has distributed almost £350 million in dividends in 2024 to its three shareholders.&nbsp;

EU arming Israel in Gaza war? How Europe's largest missile firm sold GBU-39 bomb parts to Tel Aviv that killed Gaza children

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered a major political setback on Wednesday after a key ultra-Orthodox party announced its exit from the coalition government, leaving him with a minority in parliament. This comes as the country faces volatile challenges amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Shas said that it would quit the government over a long-standing disagreement over military draft exemptions. Although the party has suggested it may still support certain legislation from the outside.&nbsp;“In this current situation, it’s impossible to sit in the government and to be a partner in it,” Shas Cabinet minister Michael Malkieli said, announcing the party’s decision, news agency AP reported. Shas said that it would not undermine Netanyahu’s coalition from the outside and may vote with it on some legislation. After the resignations come into effect, Netanyahu’s coalition will have 50 of the total 120 seats in parliament.&nbsp;The move marks the second ultra-Orthodox governing party to do so this week. Earlier on Tuesday (Jul 15), the United Torah Judaism announced that they will quit the government over the same issue.&nbsp;<h2>Is Netanyahu’s government at risk of collapse?</h2>&nbsp;After Shas’ resignations are put forward, Netanyahu still has a chance to salvage the government in the 48-hour window before they become official.&nbsp;The development also comes before the lawmakers’ recess for the summer. This grants the Israeli prime minister several months of little to no legislative activity, giving him a chance to bring the parties back into the government with a possible compromise on the draft law.&nbsp;However, if the coalition does not hold up by the time the Knesset reconvenes in the fall, Israel may be forced to hold early elections, which are originally scheduled for October 2026.&nbsp;The political crisis comes when Israel is negotiating with Hamas to settle terms for a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza. Shas’ exit is not expected to hinder the ongoing talks. However, this puts additional pressure on Netanyahu to appease his other governing allies, including the influential far-right flank, which has threatened to quit the government should the 21-month war in Gaza end with Hamas intact.&nbsp;In addition to the recent challenges, Netanyahu is currently on trial over allegations of corruption, with critics accusing him of abusing his power.

The move marks the second ultra-Orthodox governing party to do so this week. Earlier on Tuesday (Jul 15), the United Torah Judaism announced that they will quit the government over the same issue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered a major political setback on Wednesday after a key ultra-Orthodox party announced its exit from the coalition government, leaving him with a minority in parliament. This comes as the country faces volatile challenges amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Shas said that it would quit the government over a long-standing disagreement over military draft exemptions. Although the party has suggested it may still support certain legislation from the outside. “In this current situation, it’s impossible to sit in the government and to be a partner in it,” Shas Cabinet minister Michael Malkieli said, announcing the party’s decision, news agency AP reported. Shas said that it would not undermine Netanyahu’s coalition from the outside and may vote with it on some legislation. After the resignations come into effect, Netanyahu’s coalition will have 50 of the total 120 seats in parliament. The move marks the second ultra-Orthodox governing party to do so this week. Earlier on Tuesday (Jul 15), the United Torah Judaism announced that they will quit the government over the same issue. Is Netanyahu’s government at risk of collapse? After Shas’ resignations are put forward, Netanyahu still has a chance to salvage the government in the 48-hour window before they become official. The development also comes before the lawmakers’ recess for the summer. This grants the Israeli prime minister several months of little to no legislative activity, giving him a chance to bring the parties back into the government with a possible compromise on the draft law. However, if the coalition does not hold up by the time the Knesset reconvenes in the fall, Israel may be forced to hold early elections, which are originally scheduled for October 2026. The political crisis comes when Israel is negotiating with Hamas to settle terms for a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza. Shas’ exit is not expected to hinder the ongoing talks. However, this puts additional pressure on Netanyahu to appease his other governing allies, including the influential far-right flank, which has threatened to quit the government should the 21-month war in Gaza end with Hamas intact. In addition to the recent challenges, Netanyahu is currently on trial over allegations of corruption, with critics accusing him of abusing his power.

The move marks the second ultra-Orthodox governing party to do so this week. Earlier on Tuesday (Jul 15), the United Torah Judaism announced that they will quit the government over the same issue.

Netanyahu faces crisis as another key coalition partner exits Israeli government

The Israel Defence Forces on Wednesday (July 16) claimed that they had bombed the entrance gate of the Syrian army's headquarters in Damascus. The IDF announced this in a social media post, just after the sound of an explosion was heard in Syria's capital.The Israeli army further said that they are striking the area, and are also prepared for various scenarios."The IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria," the IDF said in a post on X.The Israeli forces stressed that the IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria."In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios," the post read.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⭕️The IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime&#39;s military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria. The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime&#39;s actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. In accordance with directives from the political echelon,… <a href="https://t.co/WSyBFrCiog">pic.twitter.com/WSyBFrCiog</a>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1945421069487145072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Earlier in the day, Israeli drones targeted Damascus, leading to the death of civilians, according to the Syrian news agency. This comes after the fighting in Suwayda between armed groups and government forces resumed today despite the two sides agreeing to a ceasefire on Tuesday.&nbsp;WATCH: Syrian forces accused of 'executions' in Druze area, war monitor: death toll rises to 203https://www.wionews.com/videos/syrian-forces-accused-of-executions-in-druze-area-war-monitor-death-toll-rises-to-203-1752658135932/embed<h2>Israeli army to reinforce border with Syria</h2>The Israeli army on Wednesday said that it will send reinforcements to the security fence on the border with Syria, as the IDF threatens to continue attacking Syrian forces if they do not withdraw from Suwayda province in southern Syria.Earlier today, the fight escalated after the ceasefire, which was reached on Tuesday, was violated. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the army will continue to attack Syria unless government forces pull out of the Druze-majority city of Suwayda.The Israeli army “will continue to strike regime forces until they withdraw from the area, and will soon escalate its response against the regime if the message is not understood”, Katz said.&nbsp;

The Israeli forces launched strikes on Syrian Army headquarters in capital Damascus after the ceasefire was violated. The IDF in a post on X, stressed that they are striking the area, noting they are also prepared for "various scenarios".

The Israel Defence Forces on Wednesday (July 16) claimed that they had bombed the entrance gate of the Syrian army's headquarters in Damascus. The IDF announced this in a social media post, just after the sound of an explosion was heard in Syria's capital. The Israeli army further said that they are striking the area, and are also prepared for various scenarios. "The IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria," the IDF said in a post on X. The Israeli forces stressed that the IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. "In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios," the post read.

The Israeli forces launched strikes on Syrian Army headquarters in capital Damascus after the ceasefire was violated. The IDF in a post on X, stressed that they are striking the area, noting they are also prepared for "various scenarios".

Israel bombs Syrian Army headquarters in Damascus after ceasefire violation

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli shared posts on social media, calling to "eliminate" Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa without any delay. In posts on X shared in both Hebrew and English, the Israeli minister called the Syrian president a "terrorist" who should be killed.This comes after Israel announced earlier today to strike Syrian regime targets in response to reported attacks against the Druze population by Sharaa's forces."Anyone who thinks Ahmad Al Shara is a legitimate leader is gravely mistaken. This is a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated now," Chikli said.He further accused European leaders of failing to condemn the "horrific massacre" of Syrian Alawites during sectarian violence earlier this year. "We now see the acts of slaughter and humiliation against the Druze," he said.The Israeli diaspora affairs minister also shared footage of what appears like Syrian army forces taunting and assaulting members of the Druze community by forcibly shaving their facial hair."If it looks like Hamas, talks like Hamas, and acts like Hamas - It' Hamas!", he said as he compares the alleged Syrian troops to the Hamas terror group."We must not stand idly by in the face of the Islamist-Nazi terror regime of Al-Qaeda in a suit and tie," he said in a post on X. "We saw the horrific massacre of the Alawites, met with deafening silence from European leaders, and now we are witnessing the slaughter and humiliation of the Druze."He stressed to fight the terror regime in Syria.All this comes after dozens of people from Syria's Druze minority were reportedly killed in new clashes with pro-government forces in Sweida. According to Jordan sources, Israeli drones flew over Sweida.Israel accused the Syrian government for breaching demilitarisation arrangements in the south of the country. Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to "immediately strike regime forces and weapons introduced into the Sweida area in the Druze Mountain in Syria for regime activity against the Druze”.&nbsp;

The Israeli minister vowed that they will not stand idly by in the face of the "Islamist-Nazi terror regime of Al-Qaeda" in a suit and tie. After attacks on Druze, Israeli PM Netanyahu also ordered troops to immediately strike regime forces. 

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli shared posts on social media, calling to "eliminate" Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa without any delay. In posts on X shared in both Hebrew and English, the Israeli minister called the Syrian president a "terrorist" who should be killed. This comes after Israel announced earlier today to strike Syrian regime targets in response to reported attacks against the Druze population by Sharaa's forces. "Anyone who thinks Ahmad Al Shara is a legitimate leader is gravely mistaken. This is a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated now," Chikli said. He further accused European leaders of failing to condemn the "horrific massacre" of Syrian Alawites during sectarian violence earlier this year. "We now see the acts of slaughter and humiliation against the Druze," he said. The Israeli diaspora affairs minister also shared footage of what appears like Syrian army forces taunting and assaulting members of the Druze community by forcibly shaving their facial hair. "If it looks like Hamas, talks like Hamas, and acts like Hamas - It' Hamas!", he said as he compares the alleged Syrian troops to the Hamas terror group. "We must not stand idly by in the face of the Islamist-Nazi terror regime of Al-Qaeda in a suit and tie," he said in a post on X. "We saw the horrific massacre of the Alawites, met with deafening silence from European leaders, and now we are witnessing the slaughter and humiliation of the Druze." He stressed to fight the terror regime in Syria. All this comes after dozens of people from Syria's Druze minority were reportedly killed in new clashes with pro-government forces in Sweida. According to Jordan sources, Israeli drones flew over Sweida. Israel accused the Syrian government for breaching demilitarisation arrangements in the south of the country. Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to "immediately strike regime forces and weapons introduced into the Sweida area in the Druze Mountain in Syria for regime activity against the Druze”.

The Israeli minister vowed that they will not stand idly by in the face of the "Islamist-Nazi terror regime of Al-Qaeda" in a suit and tie. After attacks on Druze, Israeli PM Netanyahu also ordered troops to immediately strike regime forces.&nbsp;

'Terrorist, a barbaric murderer': Israeli minister calls to kill Syrian president amid attacks on Druze

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ruled out normalisation between his country and Israel on Friday, while expressing hope for peaceful relations with Beirut's southern neighbour, which still occupies parts of southern Lebanon.&nbsp;Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria.&nbsp;Aoun "distinguished between peace and normalisation", according to a statement shared by the presidency.&nbsp;"Peace is the lack of a state of war, and this is what matters to us in Lebanon at the moment. As for the issue of normalisation, it is not currently part of Lebanese foreign policy," the president said in front of a delegation from an Arab think tank.&nbsp;Lebanon and Syria have technically been in a state of war with Israel since 1948, with Damascus saying that talks of normalisation were "premature".&nbsp;The president called on Israel to withdraw from the five points near the border it still occupies. Israel was required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon under a November ceasefire seeking to end its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.&nbsp;Aoun said that Israeli troops in Lebanon "obstruct the complete deployment of the army up to the internationally recognised borders".&nbsp;According to the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must pull its fighters north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border with Israel, leaving the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area.&nbsp;The United States has been calling on Lebanon to fully disarm Hezbollah, and Lebanese authorities sent their response to Washington's demand this week.&nbsp;The response was not made public, but Aoun stated that Beirut was determined to "hold the monopoly over weapons in the country".&nbsp;The implementation of this move "will take into account the interest of the state and its security stability to preserve civil peace on one hand, and national unity on the other", hinting that Hezbollah's disarmament will not be done through force.&nbsp;Hezbollah, a powerful political force in Lebanon, is the only non-state actor to have officially retained its weaponry after the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990, as parts of southern Lebanon were still under Israeli occupation at the time.&nbsp;The Lebanese group was heavily weakened following its year-long hostilities with Israel, which escalated into a two-month war in September.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ruled out normalisation between his country and Israel on Friday, while expressing hope for peaceful relations with Beirut's southern neighbour, which still occupies parts of southern Lebanon. Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria. Aoun "distinguished between peace and normalisation", according to a statement shared by the presidency. "Peace is the lack of a state of war, and this is what matters to us in Lebanon at the moment. As for the issue of normalisation, it is not currently part of Lebanese foreign policy," the president said in front of a delegation from an Arab think tank. Lebanon and Syria have technically been in a state of war with Israel since 1948, with Damascus saying that talks of normalisation were "premature". The president called on Israel to withdraw from the five points near the border it still occupies. Israel was required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon under a November ceasefire seeking to end its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Aoun said that Israeli troops in Lebanon "obstruct the complete deployment of the army up to the internationally recognised borders". According to the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must pull its fighters north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border with Israel, leaving the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area. The United States has been calling on Lebanon to fully disarm Hezbollah, and Lebanese authorities sent their response to Washington's demand this week. The response was not made public, but Aoun stated that Beirut was determined to "hold the monopoly over weapons in the country". The implementation of this move "will take into account the interest of the state and its security stability to preserve civil peace on one hand, and national unity on the other", hinting that Hezbollah's disarmament will not be done through force. Hezbollah, a powerful political force in Lebanon, is the only non-state actor to have officially retained its weaponry after the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990, as parts of southern Lebanon were still under Israeli occupation at the time. The Lebanese group was heavily weakened following its year-long hostilities with Israel, which escalated into a two-month war in September. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria.

Lebanese president says normalisation with Israel ‘not part of foreign policy’

US President Donald Trump's administration has been using shadow pro-Israel blacklisting websites to target international student activists for investigation and deportation, a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official testified in a federal court. This is the first time that a Trump official has acknowledged taking help from the opaque groups behind the sites.Peter Hatch, the assistant director of the Homeland Security Investigations department within ICE accepted that the Trump administration was using these websites.This comes as Trump has increased efforts to deport student activists involved in pro-Palestinian protests. While the group of university professors said that it has harmed their protected political speech.Hatch, while he was questioned by a lawyer, said that in March, he was provided with a list of names of students for his agency to investigate and that most” of those names came from the website Canary Mission, but also from other places.The list produced by the Department of Homeland Security was created in March to gather reports on such students.“Because of the workload,” Hatch said, analysts were moved from working on counterterrorism, global trade, and cybercrimes to join the group, known as the “Tiger Team,” focused on writing reports about people involved in student protests.According to the Canary Mission website, it documents individuals and organisations that "promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American campuses and beyond."It added that it will profile people who support efforts to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel or companies associated with Israel.Hatch also informed that "more than 75%” of the names of student protesters his agency was asked to probe came from the website. The list had over 5,000 people that analysts from his Office of Intelligence and Analysis had to review.“The Canary Mission wasn’t the only group of students. It was most of it, yes,” Hatch said, adding that some were duplicated in multiple sources. “But Canary Mission was the most inclusive.”&nbsp;

Hatch, while he was questioned by a lawyer, said that in March, he was provided with a list of names of students for his agency to investigate and that most” of those names came from the website Canary Mission, but also from other places.

US President Donald Trump's administration has been using shadow pro-Israel blacklisting websites to target international student activists for investigation and deportation, a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official testified in a federal court. This is the first time that a Trump official has acknowledged taking help from the opaque groups behind the sites. Peter Hatch, the assistant director of the Homeland Security Investigations department within ICE accepted that the Trump administration was using these websites. This comes as Trump has increased efforts to deport student activists involved in pro-Palestinian protests. While the group of university professors said that it has harmed their protected political speech. Hatch, while he was questioned by a lawyer, said that in March, he was provided with a list of names of students for his agency to investigate and that most” of those names came from the website Canary Mission, but also from other places. The list produced by the Department of Homeland Security was created in March to gather reports on such students. “Because of the workload,” Hatch said, analysts were moved from working on counterterrorism, global trade, and cybercrimes to join the group, known as the “Tiger Team,” focused on writing reports about people involved in student protests. According to the Canary Mission website, it documents individuals and organisations that "promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American campuses and beyond." It added that it will profile people who support efforts to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel or companies associated with Israel. Hatch also informed that "more than 75%” of the names of student protesters his agency was asked to probe came from the website. The list had over 5,000 people that analysts from his Office of Intelligence and Analysis had to review. “The Canary Mission wasn’t the only group of students. It was most of it, yes,” Hatch said, adding that some were duplicated in multiple sources. “But Canary Mission was the most inclusive.”

Hatch, while he was questioned by a lawyer, said that in March, he was provided with a list of names of students for his agency to investigate and that most” of those names came from the website Canary Mission, but also from other places.

Trump's Tiger Team: ICE used shadowy website to target pro-Palestinian students for deportation - US official reveals

The Palestinian militant group Hamas allegedly used sexual violence as "part of a deliberate genocidal strategy" during the October 7 attack on Israel, a group of Israeli legal and gender experts claimed in a new report.The Dinah Project, in its report, stated what it describes as a "legal blueprint for prosecuting these crimes, even when direct attribution to individual perpetrators is impossible".The report is based on a review of evidence, which further includes testimony from a survivor of an attempted rape and 15 former hostages held in Gaza.According to the report, the Palestinian militant group used sexual violence as a "tactical weapon", as part of a genocidal scheme and with the goal of "terrorising and dehumanising Israeli society".It also "creates a pathway to justice for victims of the 7 October attack and potentially for victims in other conflict zones", the group stressed.The authors of the report stated that they reviewed several sources from social media as well as recorded testimonies. They also gathered forensic evidence and visual and audio evidence.One of the 15 former hostages said that she was forced to perform a sexual act, which was preceded by sexual abuse and verbal and physical sexual harassment, as per the report. While continuing to express her ordeal, she also said that she endured forced nudity.Almost all the hostages reported verbal and some physical harassment, including "unwanted physical contact in private parts", the report read. While six hostages alleged that they also faced threats of forced marriages.Not just women, two men hostages also alleged that they were subjected to forced nudity and physical abuse when naked.According to the report, five witnesses reported at least four separate cases of gang rape. Moreover, 27 first responders described dozens of cases which showed "clear signs of sexual violence across six locations", including the Nova festival, Route 232, and the kibbutzim of Be'eri, Alumim, Nahal Oz and Re'im.<h2>Hamas denies allegation of ‘sexual abuse’</h2>&nbsp;However, Hamas has denied the allegations, saying that they did not commit sexual violence or mistreat any women while keeping them hostage.In March 2024, a United Nations mission concluded that there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that conflict-related sexual violence happened during the October 7 attack in Israel, including rape and gang rape. It added that there was "convincing information" that the Israeli hostages faced sexual violence and sexualised torture.&nbsp;

According to the report, the Palestinian militant group used sexual violence as a "tactical weapon", as part of a genocidal scheme and with the goal of "terrorising and dehumanising Israeli society".

The Palestinian militant group Hamas allegedly used sexual violence as "part of a deliberate genocidal strategy" during the October 7 attack on Israel, a group of Israeli legal and gender experts claimed in a new report. The Dinah Project, in its report, stated what it describes as a "legal blueprint for prosecuting these crimes, even when direct attribution to individual perpetrators is impossible". The report is based on a review of evidence, which further includes testimony from a survivor of an attempted rape and 15 former hostages held in Gaza. According to the report, the Palestinian militant group used sexual violence as a "tactical weapon", as part of a genocidal scheme and with the goal of "terrorising and dehumanising Israeli society". It also "creates a pathway to justice for victims of the 7 October attack and potentially for victims in other conflict zones", the group stressed. The authors of the report stated that they reviewed several sources from social media as well as recorded testimonies. They also gathered forensic evidence and visual and audio evidence. One of the 15 former hostages said that she was forced to perform a sexual act, which was preceded by sexual abuse and verbal and physical sexual harassment, as per the report. While continuing to express her ordeal, she also said that she endured forced nudity. Almost all the hostages reported verbal and some physical harassment, including "unwanted physical contact in private parts", the report read. While six hostages alleged that they also faced threats of forced marriages. Not just women, two men hostages also alleged that they were subjected to forced nudity and physical abuse when naked. According to the report, five witnesses reported at least four separate cases of gang rape. Moreover, 27 first responders described dozens of cases which showed "clear signs of sexual violence across six locations", including the Nova festival, Route 232, and the kibbutzim of Be'eri, Alumim, Nahal Oz and Re'im. Hamas denies allegation of ‘sexual abuse’ However, Hamas has denied the allegations, saying that they did not commit sexual violence or mistreat any women while keeping them hostage. In March 2024, a United Nations mission concluded that there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that conflict-related sexual violence happened during the October 7 attack in Israel, including rape and gang rape. It added that there was "convincing information" that the Israeli hostages faced sexual violence and sexualised torture.

According to the report, the Palestinian militant group used sexual violence as a "tactical weapon", as part of a genocidal scheme and with the goal of "terrorising and dehumanising Israeli society".

Did Hamas use sexual violence as 'tactical weapon'? Israeli report accuses militant group of terrorising society

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